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Why don’t we pray more specifically?

New International Version
“All this,” David said, “I have in writing as a result of the LORD’s hand on me, and he enabled me to understand all the details of the plan.”(referring to the plans for the temple that his son Solomon would build.)

Just a quick question and couple of comments based on my scripture reading this morning.

Why don’t we, like David, ask for specific guidance about what concerns us? Is it because we think that if we do it’s too easy to know whether our prayers have been answered or not? In other words, we can’t really be disappointed if we keep everything pretty general, right? Shoot at a flock of birds all the time and you’re bound to hit one.

Let me explain that better.

I sometimes we Christians pray too “general”. You know, like bless this, bless that. Bless this person and bless that person. We ask for guidance. But how many of us ask for specific things?

“Lord, I need your help in picking out paint colors today. I don’t want to make a mistake and spend more money correcting that mistake.”

“Lord, I’m looking for a dress for my nephew’s wedding and I don’t want to spend a lot”. Yet there are countless examples throughout scripture where God gives detailed answers and explanations. God is interested in the specifics that concern us as well.

Here’s a little excerpt from a number of years ago that reinforce this.

“The details of this blog get prayed about every day because this is such a steep learning curve for me. Just today I asked for detailed guidance about a specific issue. It has already been provided.”

Don’t be afraid to be specific. Yes, when we pray specifically, it’s easier to get disappointed. It’s easier to know whether our prayer has been answered or not and in the way we want. But when that happens, we just go back to the drawing board. We think through what we prayed. Maybe we change our request, maybe we don’t.

I’ve just learned over the years I can trust God with anything and everything in my life.

Be brave today. Ask for what you want to matter how specific. I’m not saying you’ll always get it but that’s not the point. The point is the asking.

I mean that. The point really is in the asking. Why do you suppose that is?

There have been all kinds of answers that people have given over the years. But I think the only answer is so simple it almost feels too easy.

Because Jesus said to pray.

That’s it. It’s that simple. We pray because we are told to pray. We pray because Jesus did.

We learn so much about ourselves when we pray. I pray aloud as you know if you’ve read my past posts. When I hear my words spoken in my voice, it reveals a lot to me about me. I can hear the selfishness in my voice. I can hear the whining. I can hear the desperation.

Don’t be afraid to trust God with the details about what concerns you.

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